Tesla Model S Auto-parking Function Needs No Driver On The Seat
Tesla Motors on Sunday rolled out new software that will let some of its electric cars park in a garage or in perpendicular spaces without a driver behind the wheel. Owners of Model S and Model X sedans will be able to park them while standing outside the vehicle if it’s within 10 meters of a garage or narrow space, Tesla said Sunday . The cars can also be summoned from a parking spot, according to the company, which said the tools remain in a beta version.
In cruise control mode, the car will now anticipate highway exits by slowing down if you have activated your turn signal, Tesla said.
But the updated Autopilot driving system (7.1 software update)also put new limits on its hands-free operation. The function will now be restricted on residential roads or roads without a center divider, Tesla said, meaning that the car cannot drive faster than a maximum of the speed limit plus five miles per hour.
Tesla’s Autopilot features will also let cars change lanes with turn signals and parallel park.
Tesla was one of the first companies to offer a steering system that could be operated hands-free, one of the first steps to full self-driving that industry experts believe may be available by 2020.